guErRilla candy is Travis Hay's one-stop destination for opinionated and informed musing about all things music, ranging from noteworthy news bits about the local scene to rants about how the national music media gets more things wrong than it does right.

My ears are going to explode (in a good way): The Black Keys, The Hives, Nada Surf and Blitzen Trapper are coming to town

There are so many awesome shows happening in the coming weeks I think my ears might actually explode with joy!

First up is the honorary Seattle band that happens to be from New York, Nada Surf. This melodic three-piece will be playing a sold-out show at the Triple Door Jan. 31.

I hear what you’re saying. “You said the show is sold out. Since I can’t get tickets why should I care?”

Well, you shouldn’t I guess.

But you still can see Nada Surf live, which is touring behind its latest record, the upcoming “Lucky” due out Feb. 5. The boys will be back in town playing at Showbox at the Market on March 28. So get your tickets now before the show sells out.

NADA SURF: “WHOSE AUTHORITY” (New song performed live)

Next is Blitzen Trapper, which is making not one, but two Seattle stops in the coming months.

The Portland buzz band will be performing at the UW HUB with fellow Barsukians Menomena on Feb. 22 and will also be at Neumo’s on April 18 with local flavor of the month Fleet Foxes.

Actually, FF has been around for a little while now and they are pretty good, so I guess they aren’t a flavor-of-the-month band. They’re more like the band that all the snobby hipster kids who think they are cooler than you are dig.

Then there is The Hives at Showbox SoDo on Feb. 23.

These Swedes know how to put on a show. Sure they only play for about 60 minutes even though they have four albums, but it’ll likely be the tightest 60 minutes of rock you’ll see in a club this year.

These guys have their stuff together when it comes to live performances and considering most of their songs are no longer than three minutes you’re going to get a lot of music for your money.

THE HIVES: “FALL” (Cartoon Network promotional song)

Last but not least, the show I am most excited about, The Black Keys at Showbox SoDo on April 5.

This Akron, Ohio duo is the best two-piece band on the planet. More raw than the White Stripes, louder than Local H and bluesier than the Helio Sequence. Hands down there is not a better two-piece out there.

Anyway, The Keys’ new record, called “Attack & Release” comes out April 1. The record was produced by none other than Danger Mouse, which means it’s going to be the bees knees.

It’ll be interesting to hear how DM tackles rock music. Knowing the Keys’ canon I’m guessing Danger Mouse added lots of polish where needed while making the down and dirty parts of the record even more down and dirtier than anything the Black Keys have recorded.

So that covers January, February and April.

What about March you ask?

Well, there is a special show I plan on attending in March on behalf of Ear Candy, but more on that later.

Keep you browsers peeled to Ear Candy details about what’s sure to be a night of great Seattle rock come March.